Biological functions of decorin in cancer

Decorin is a member of the extracellular matrix small leucine-rich proteoglycans family that exists and functions in stromal and epithelial cells. Accumulating evidence suggests that decorin affects the biology of various types of cancer by directly or indirectly targeting the signaling molecules involved in cell growth, survival, metastasis, and angiogenesis. More recent studies show that decorin plays important roles during tumor development and progression and is a potential cancer therapeutic agent. In this article, we summarize recent studies of decorin in cancer and discuss decorin's therapeutic and prognostic value.